How do I submit a customs declaration

You can submit an import declaration once the transport company (e.g. Posti) or the warehouse keeper has notified you of the arrival of the goods. The arrival notice contains the arrival ID or the MRN, which you need for the customs declaration.

  1. Submit the customs declaration within the specified time limit. If you have the required details of the goods and all the import requirements are met, it may only take a couple of minutes to declare the goods.
  2. You will receive the goods immediately after customs clearance and payment of the customs invoice. If you have an authorisation for payment deferment granted by Customs, you will receive the goods after customs clearance, but you can pay the customs invoice

Please note that you can in some cases submit a customs declaration before the goods arrive in Finland. Read more about submitting an import declaration in advance

Who submits the customs declaration?

The business (importer) is responsible for declaring the goods. In practice, the customs declaration can be submitted by

  • the importer
  • by a representative authorised by the importer to submit the customs declaration. The representative must present a power of attorney to Customs on request. Read more about acting as a representative.

Different ways to declare goods

  • Submit an import declaration online in the Customs Clearance Service.
  • You can also apply for message declarant status if your business lodges a large number of customs declarations. Message exchange requires investments by the business. 
  • Declarations for simplified procedures or special procedures can also be lodged using the SAD form.

In the customs declaration, choose the right customs procedure and the appropriate nature of transaction according to the purpose of use.

The most common customs procedure is release for free circulation.

Don’t forget to apply for identifiers and authorisations

Points to consider

A single import declaration can cover only one means of transport. This means that an individual import declaration can contain details only on a single train car. 

If you declare goods directly from the train car, be sure to provide the train car number as the identifier for the means of transport in a standard import declaration. This information is to be entered under “Arrival transport means”. As for simplified declarations, this information is not included. 

If goods under temporary storage or customs warehousing is imported by rail, and you submit an import declaration for the goods (previous procedure 00 or 71), enter “Train” as the identifier of the means of transport.

Only goods that have arrived in Finland can be cleared by Customs.

If the goods have arrived in separate consignments, a separate import declaration must be submitted for each consignment. You can provide the date of arrival only once in the import declaration, and the details of only one means of transport.

If you don’t know what goods the consignment that has arrived contains, you can, for a charge, request an examination of the goods.

The company completes the SAD form. The form can be completed in advance online, and then it must be printed on self-copying paper.

Customs' printed forms are sold at PunaMustas online store. The paper SAD must be submitted to the customs office that is closest to the goods and offers customs clearance services, during the opening hours of the office. Postal parcels can only be cleared at certain customs offices.

Contact information and customs offices
Customs declaration (SAD)